Jesse Barfield

Two-time Gold Glove right fielder who led the AL in home runs in 1986 and was the first Blue Jay with 20 homers and 20 steals in a season.

Jesse Lee Barfield (born October 29, 1959) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a right fielder from 1981 to 1992 for the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees.

Quick Facts

Position: Right fielder
Bats: Right
Born: 29 October 1959
Birthplace: Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
Debut league: MLB
Debut date: September 3
Debut year: 1981
Debut team: Toronto Blue Jays

Lore & Background

A two-time Gold Glove Award winner, Barfield was a strong defensive player with a powerful throwing arm that allowed him to lead American League outfielders five times in assists. He ended his playing career ranked second only to Baseball Hall of Famer Chuck Klein in outfield assists per 1,000 innings. He also provided strong offense, winning a Silver Slugger Award and leading the American League in home runs in 1986, the same year he was named to the American League All-Star team. Injuries prematurely ended his major league career after 11 seasons. He played his final season of professional baseball in 1993 with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball. After his playing career, Barfield worked as a major league coach for the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners.

Reader's Guide

Barfield was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth round (233rd overall) of the 1977 Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut on September 3, 1981. He became the Blue Jays' starting right fielder in 1982. In 1985, he became the first Blue Jays player to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases in the same season.

In 1986, he collected career-highs in batting average (.289), 40 home runs, 108 RBI, 107 runs, 170 hits, 35 doubles, and wRC+ (147). His 40 homers led the major leagues and set a team record that lasted one year. He won both a Gold Glove Award and a Silver Slugger Award in 1986, and was selected to the American League All-Star team. On April 30, 1989, Barfield was traded to the New York Yankees for pitcher Al Leiter.

By 1992, injuries and general ineffectiveness forced his retirement at the age of 32. In 1993, he played in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants. Barfield joined the Houston Astros for spring training in 1994 but injuries prevented him from making the team. He then joined the Astros as a coach in 1995.

Did You Know?

Barfield hit the first grand slam in Blue Jays franchise history on April 25, 1982 against the Boston Red Sox.
He finished eighth in American League Rookie of the Year voting after the 1982 season.
Barfield was inducted into the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990.
In 2023, Barfield was elected into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.